Deadline is reporting that Harry Potter star Emma Watson is joining Darren Aronofsky‘s upcoming biblical epic Noah. The young actress is trying to shed her Harry Potter image and establish herself as a bonafide leading lady. So far, she seems to be doing well in that regard. She just finished shooting The Bling Ring and she’s currently working on The End of The World.
In Noah, she’ll play Ila who is “close with Noah’s son Shem (Douglas Booth).” It’s the same role that Saoirse Ronan was attached to earlier this year.
Watson will join the above mentioned Booth as well as Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly (who is all but confirmed) and Logan Lerman in the big budget flick.
The film is looking to portray Noah as “a man who loves Earth and all of its animal inhabitants, but has become disillusioned with the way humans have treated their planet.” It will also focus on Noah’s alcoholic tendencies and despite it being a darker take on the tale, it will aim for a PG-13 rating.
Admittedly, I think Watson has a chance at shedding her Harry Potter image. I’ve always enjoyed the work that she’s done in the Potter films and I think she has a promising career ahead of her.
Shooting on Noah is set to get underway this summer for a March 28th, 2014 release.